Advent Reflections

“When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.” Matthew 1:24

Obedience. It is a word that for many of us causes us to wrinkle our nose and shake our head. It makes us feel uncomfortable, especially those of us who have grown up in western civilization and have been taught by society that we are the authors of our own destiny and masters of our fate. The thought of obedience conjures up the idea of submission and weakness. From the beginning of Scripture, we are confronted with those individuals who disobey God beginning with Adam and Eve whose disobedience introduces original sin into the world.

Then Mary and Joseph enter into the biblical narrative, and we see a direct contrast to the disobedience of Adam and Eve. Mary’s and Joseph’s perfect obedienc Patrick Kinne, Acting Principal of Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School e to that which the Lord asks of them ultimately results in the coming of Christ. Joseph had every right under the law to not only ruin Mary but also to call for her execution upon learning of her unwed pregnancy. However, Joseph is obedient to what the Angel Gabriel tells him in his dream, and Joseph takes Mary as his wife allowing her to escape public shame and accepting his role as the earthly father of Jesus.

Author Adam Hamilton writes, “When we look at Joseph, we are meant to see God’s call to humble service and obedience. Joseph models for us how to serve without expectation of reward. He had the most important job ever given to a man up to that point. His was the task of raising Jesus and teaching him how to be a man. He did this without recognition, without the praise of others, solely because God called him in a dream to care for God’s son.” God’s greatest work in our lives may be difficult, confusing, and challenging, and we may never receive the praise of others, but we are called to remember and emulate the example of Joseph’s obedience as we serve anyway, seeking nothing more in this world than God’s satisfaction and glory.

This reflection is written by Patrick Kinne, Acting Principal of Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School .